SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES REPORT-ODC ARMENIA-JULY 2008

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000602 SIPDIS SECSTATE FOR PM AND ISP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MCAP KCFE XG AM SUBJECT: SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES REPORT-ODC ARMENIA-JULY 2008 ¶1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Defense Language Instructor month-long assistance and assessment; Crisis Response Table Top ExerciQwith Armenian Rescue Service; Strategic DeQse Review Workshop with CCMR; JCTP and SPP events conducted ¶2. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS ¶A. An instrQor from the Defense Language Institute (DLI) in San Antonio, TX, is in Armenia for 30-days conducting an assessment of the existing English language programs in the MOD. Ms Mary Jo Villalobos is evaluating the fledgling intensive-English language course designed to support Armenian officers and NCOs who have been identified to attend DLI training through IMET. She is also assessing the older non-intensive English language courses that have been established at the two Armenian four-year military academies. Ms Villalobos is also providing teaching technique instruction directly to the Armenian English language instructors and is also providing course development assistance to the Armenian English Language Program Director. All recommendations from Ms. Villalobos' visit will be provided to the Armenian Ministry of Defense's Personnel and Education Department via the ODC. This event directly supports IPAP Goal 2.4.5: Language Training ¶B. From 15-18 Jul 08 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Civil Military Emergency Preparedness program conducted a Table Top Exercise (TTX) designed to test and validate the Armenian crisis response plan for a potential nuclear power plant incident at the Metzamor nuclear facility located on the outskirts of Yerevan. The TTX marked the first time that all Armenian agencies and governmental directorates which are identified to react to a nuclear incident in Armenia, participated together in an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during a full-blown TTX. The TTX validated some actions identified in the Armenian plan, while also identifying potential weaknesses that will need to be addressed and improved by the Armenian government. Also attending the event were numerous international agencies and NGOs such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),International Committee of the ReQCross (ICRC),the United Nations DevelopmeQProgram (UNDP) and Swiss and German crisis response organizations. Select Armenian individuals will follow-Qthis TXX by attending and observing the Kansas Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant crisis response exercise later this year. This event directly supports IPAP Goal 1.4.1: Enhance Armenia's overall crisis management capabilities and inter-agency coordination. ¶C. The Center for Civil-Military Relations (CCMR) conducted a workshop with all the Armenian participants who were initially identified to be part of Armenia's Strategic Defense Review (SDR). Since the execution of an SDR constitutes a huge leap forward in identifying necessary reforms and providing national military transparency to NATO and the US, CCMR is providing a team of international experts who will work directly with the Armenians to identify the purpose and procedures for conducting an effective SDR, and to further assist in identifying each SDR team member's responsibilities and duties. Additionally, personnel from the Bulgaria MOD will provide insight into Bulgaria's lQons learned from the conduct of that country's SDR. Upon completion of this initial SDR event, CCMR will identify follow-on events which will be designed to support the Armenian SDR during the remainder of FY08 and into FY09. This event supports IPAP Goal: 2.2.3: Conduct a Strategic Defense Review. ¶D. STATUS OF FOREIGN MILITARY FINANCING (FMF): ¶1. The Armenian MOD submitted a Letter of Request to provide additional FMF funding to the existing AM-B-OAA: Blanket Army Training Case; to support the execution of the $750K Medic MTT. This MTT will train 35 Armenian medics in the US Army 16-week, Combat Medic course, in Armenia, to US standards and qualifications. This FMF case would support IPAP Goal 2.3.2; Establish a Peacekeeping Brigade. ¶2. The Armenian MOD submitted a request through the ODC for GPOI funds to provide temporary buildings to house and establish the new Armenian Peacekeeping Brigade outside of Yerevan, Armenia. Initial estimates of the request would be for about $6M to support the provision of structures identical or very similar to those provided to the Georgian Ministry of Defense, which are located at the Krtsanisi Training Area, just outside of Tbilisi, Georgia. This GPOI case would support IPAP Goal 2.3.2; Establish a Peacekeeping Brigade. ¶3. The Armenian MOD plans to submit a Letter of Request in the coming weeks to acquire Harris Radio maintenance equipment and to establish a Harris radio maintenance facility in the Signal Department in order to allow the MOD to service and repair FMF provided Harris radios within Armenia. This FMF case would support IPAP Goal 2.3.2; Establish a Peacekeeping Brigade. ¶4. US Army Security Assistance Command (USASAC) is coordinating the Armenian Letter of Request for approximately $2.5M worth of Harris Radios and ancillary equipment for outfitting the Armenian 2nd Peacekeeping Battalion with US and NATO interoperable communications equipment. This amendment to the existing AM-B-UAB FMF case supports IPAP Goal 2.3.2; Establish a Peacekeeping Brigade. ¶E. Joint Contact Team Program (JCTP). Two JCTP events were conducted during the month of July. ¶1. The Professional Military Education FAM was conducted from 7-11 Jul. Three Armenian officers including the Chief of the Personnel and Education Department visited Ft Benning, GA, to observe the types of courses that Armenian officers and NCOs attend there, and to get a better understanding of the requirements and training standards of those courses, and the education that their officers and NCOs receive through IMET ¶2. Marine Forces Europe conducted a briefing, from 22-24 Jul, on Personnel Readiness Processing (PRP) as related to preparing troops for foreign deployments. ¶F. State Partnership Program (SPP). Three SPP events were conducted during the month of July. ¶1. The Combat Lifesaver (CLS) TCT was conducted from 14-18 Jul with the Armenian Peacekeeping Brigade. Armenian soldiers were provided with the standards and requirements for being a qualified CLS. ¶2. Armenian EMEDS personnel observed the US National Guard "Patriot" Exercise in Volk Field, Wisconsin from 21-25 Jul. The exercise demonstrated to the Armenians how EMEDS field hospital can be effectively deployed and redeployed, used to conduct medical operations. ¶3. Nurses from the Kansas National Guard provided briefings on U.S. nursing education, qualifications, standards, duties and responsibilities for the Armenian Medical Department and Expeditionary Medical Support field hospital personnel ¶G. Defense Institution Building (DIB). The Strategic Defense Review (SDR) workshop was conQted by the Center for Civil Military RelationsQCMR) from 28 Jul-1 Aug. CCMR provided two SDR experts to provide briefings and advice to the Armenian military and civilians identified to be conducting ArmenQs SDRQ the coming year. CCMR further coordinated with two Bulgarians from the Bulgarian MOD who provided input to the Armenian MOD on lessons learned from the conduct of the Bulgarian SDR ¶H. Humanitarian Assistance (HA). ¶1. An EP project that will provide fire-fighting equipment to support the Armenian Rescue Service (ARS) is currently being coordinated by the BAO and EUCOM-J4-ID-HA. ¶2. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CoE) is currently coordinating the implementation of the HA-Other stand-alone project that will reconstruct existing water wells in three rural villages in Armenia where the current water system has deteriorated to a degree that potable water is seldom available. HA funding for this project must be obligated by the end of this fiscal year. ¶I. International Military Education and Training (IMET): English Language testing and number of IMET students in US. ¶1. Training Snapshot Students at DLI: 5 Students at Specialty Training: 6 E-IMET: 0 ¶2. English Comprehension Level (ECL) Testing Students tested in June: 2 ¶3. PERSONNEL/RESOURCES/LOGISTICS ¶A. GAINS: MAJ Mike McCullough is scheduled to arrive in Yerevan to assume responsibilities as ODC Chief on 25 Aug 08 following DISAM training and COT leave. ¶B. LOSSES: LTC Doug Peterson departed Yerevan, Armenia as the ODC Chief on 31 Jul 08. ¶C. ATTACHED PERSONNEL (TDY): None. ¶D. APPROVED LEAVES NEXT 30 DAYS: MAJ McCullough: COT leave from 6-25 Aug 08 ¶E. TDY NEXT 30 DAYS: None ¶F. RATING SCHEME CHANGES: MAJ Keller is anticipated to be rated by COL Gabel the ECJ5-BE Chief upon the departure of LTC Peterson ¶G. EXTENSIONS/CURTAILMENTS: None. ¶5. ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES: ¶A. EFFICIENCY REPORT SUSPENSES: None ¶B. AWARD SUSPENSES: LTC Peterson: ODC Chief PCS Award submission - Complete ¶C. PERSONNEL ACTIONS: None ¶6. ODC CHIEF'S COMMENTS: In-country JCTP events and Defense Institution Building events that were not conducted as planned from Mar-Jun 08 are currently being executed from Jul-Sep 08. ¶7. POC for this message is LTC Doug Peterson. 37410-49-46-65 37410-46-47-36(fax) petersond@state.gov PENNINGTON